Slam Dunk Solidifies Win in Philly

Donovan Mitchell struggled from the floor – going 4-for-13 from the floor – but handed out a season-high 12 assists. Craig Porter Jr., who jumped into the starting lineup with Darius Garland out nursing his right toe, handed out a career-high-tying 11 assists of his own. In the two-game set against Philly, the Cavs combined to hand out 79 assists. 

Rookie Tyrese Proctor also took advantage of his opportunity, finishing with 13 points in 11 minutes off the bench – going 5-of-8 from the floor, 3-of-5 from long-distance. 

Overall, the Wine & Gold shot 52 percent from the floor and an even 50 percent from deep, drilling 17 triples on the night. 

Joel Embiid led the Sixers with 33 points, doing most of his damage from the stripe, where he went 11-of-12. Tyrese Maxey led Philly with nine assists, but was just 9-of-23 from the floor on Friday, 14-for-39 combined in the two-game set this week. 

*** After sweeping the two games in Philadelphia, the Cavaliers return home for one of the biggest matchups of the season – welcoming the World Champs to town for an MLK Day matinee at Rocket Arena. On Wednesday, Cleveland travels to Charlotte for a meeting with the Hornets before a weekend back-to-back – with the Kings rolling on next Friday night followed by a Saturday night showdown with the Magic in Orlando. 

From start to finish, Friday night in Philadelphia was the Jaylon Tyson Show. And as great as the sophomore swingman was scoring the basketball – erupting for a career-high 39 points – it was his fourth assist that sent Cleveland home with the win. 

In a back-and-forth fourth quarter, Tyson drilled his seventh triple of the night to put the Cavaliers up a point with just under two minutes to play. The two teams traded leads from there until Tyrese Maxey tied the affair at 115-apiece with eight seconds to play. 

After Cleveland used its final timeout, Tyson took the inbounds pass from Lonzo Ball, drove baseline and, as Joel Embiid and Paul George converged on him, fed off to Evan Mobley, who dunked home the game-winner – sealing the 117-115 win, the Cavs second over the Sixers this week, third straight this year and sixth in their last seven tries. 

Tyson got the Cavaliers rolling early with 12 points in the first quarter, and he barely let up from there. On the night, the 23-year-old went 13-for-17 from the floor, including 7-of-9 from long-range and 6-of-6 from the stripe, adding five boards and four helpers – including the dime that sealed the deal with 4.8 to play. 

On the year, Tyson is now shooting .524 from the floor, and his three-point percentage – .475 – moves him up to second in the NBA. 

“I just feel like it was a good team win,” said Tyson following the victory. “I don’t want to make this all about me. Obviously, I had a good game, but I feel like everybody made some good plays – Dre made some good plays, JA, Evan, Donovan, Nae’Qwan. Everybody came in and made good plays. Hopefully, we’ll take this win and keep stacking ‘em.” 

The Sixers looked like they would open the game up early in the fourth quarter, taking an 11-point lead with eight minutes to play. But Cleveland clawed its way back and tied the game at 102-apiece hallway through the period. Philadelphia bounced back to take a seven-point edge with just under four minutes remaining. But Tyson’s two triples to put the Cavs back in business. 

De’Andre Hunter capped his Philly homecoming this week, and after coming off the bench for 17 points on Wednesday, followed up with 16 on Friday night – going 7-for-13 from the field, including 2-of-5 from beyond the arc. 

Evan Mobley chipped in with 15 points, five boards, four assists and four blocks. The reigning DPOY now has 11 rejections over his last three games.